Clothes washing machine



May 5, 1959 A. H. GE'RHARDT 2,884,947

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1ITZJ/ERZZOT'" Q'narewfferkardf A. H. GERHARDT 2,884,947

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE May 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1956.4342 H -22 7 fraz /erzif" QndrewHGer/azrdf United States CLOTHESWASHING MACHINE Application August 10, 1956, Serial No. 603,385

Claims. (Cl. 137-216) This invention relates to laundry equipment andhas A tub 4 is disposed within the cabinet 1 and rests on a base 5. Abasket 6 for receiving the clothes to be washed tubs 7 and 8 areactually a single unit having a partition 11 in the center thereofdividing the storage facilities B into two tubs or compartments 7 and 8.The tub 7 is particular reference to an automatic clothes washingmachine.

More particularly this invention relates to an automatic clothes washingmachine of the type providing automatic filling of the machine withwater, and automatic washing, rinsing, and water extraction cycles ofthe washing operation.

The present invention more particularly relates to a washing machine ofthe above mentioned type wherein storage facilities are provided for thesudsy wash water of the washing cycle whereby the wash water may bepumped back into the machine and used in a subsequent washing operation.

It is desirable that the pump for returning the sudsy wash water fromthe storage facilities back into the machine be a part of the automaticclothes washing machine. Certain difliculties arise, however, in using apump on the washing machine itself since conventional pumps are not selfpriming. I have provided an arrangement whereby a pump is employed onthe washing machine itself whereby a pump is employed on the washingmachine itself for drawing the sudsy water from the storage facilitiesto the tub of the washer and have also provided means for keeping thepump primed so that it will operate at any time 'to pump the water fromthe storage facilities to the machine for reuse.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel watersupplying means for the machine wherein tap water and the stored sudsywater are supplied to the machine through a common inlet.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel waterdistribution system wherein the pump which returns the sudsy 'water fromthe storage facilities to the washing machine is maintained primed atall times.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention disclosedherein will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

It is preferred to accomplish the various objects of this invention andto practice the same in substantially the manner as hereinafter morefully described and as more 1 particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawingsforming a part hereof and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the automatic clothes washing machinesituated beside a pair of laundry tubs with fluid conduits disposedbetween the machine and the tubs;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view showing the details of the watersupplying means for the washing machine; and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the water supplying means. Referring toFig. 1, the letter A refers to the washing machine and the letter Bdenotes the storage facilities for the sudsy wash water. The washingmachine A comprises a cabinet 1 having a control panel 2 at the topthereof, the control cabinet containing a control mechanism 3. Thecontrol mechanism forms no part of the present invention and thereforeis shown only diagrammatically.

the tub 7, whereby when the flapper valve 23 is in a posi- 7 tionclosing the outlet 21 and opening the outlet 22, water provided with adrain opening 12 adapted to be closed by a plug 13 and the tub 8 has adrain opening 14. The drain openings 12 and 14 are in communication withdrain 15 which is connected to the usual household sewer system.Referring again to the Washing machine A, means are provided forremoving water from the tub 4 to thestorage facilities B for storage ofthe sudsy wash water or for discharge of the water to the sewer throughthe drain 15. Means are also provided for returning the stored sudsywater from the storage facilities B to the tub 4 for reuse.

A drain opening 16 is provided in the bottom of tu-b 4 and a pump 17 isprovided for pumping the water from the tub 4 into a conduit 18, theconduit 18 being connected to an inlet 19 of a solenoid operated two-wayvalve 20. The valve 20 also has an outlet 21 and an outlet 22. A flappervalve 23 is provided in the valve 20 and the flapper valve 23 isactuated by a solenoid 24 connected thereto by means of a link 25 and alever 26. A flexible conduit 27 is connected to the outlet 21 of thetwoway valve 20. The conduit 27 extends from the valve 20 to the tub 8of the storage facilities B, whereby when the flapper valve 23 is in aposition opening the outlet 21, water from the tub 4 is dischargedthrough the outlet 21 into the conduit 27 and into the tub 8 from whenceit discharges through drain 15 to the sewer.

The outlet 22 has connected thereon a flexible conduit 28 which conduitis in communication with the top of is pumped from the tub 4 through thevalve 20, the outlet 22, and the flexible conduit 28 to the tub 7. It isto be noted that the tub 7 has a plug 13 positioned in the drain opening12 so that the water discharged into the tub from conduit 28 is storedin the tub.

- The means for returning the sudsy water from the tub 7 of the storagefacilities B to the basket 6 of the washing machine A comprise aflexible conduit 29 having an extension 30 thereon, the extension 30having its end disposed ou the bottom of the tub 7. A cap 31 is providedon the endof the conduit extension 30 and the cap 31 has .a restriction32 therein for providing a fluid flow at a particular desired rate. Theflexible conduit 29 is connected at its other end to a pump 34 having aninlet 35 a circular conduit 38 provided with a protruding hollow flange39 providing a flat elongated discharge conduit 43 at one side of theconduit 38. The conduit 43 has an I opening 43a in the top thereof. Theopening 43a is provided in order to give an increased area for thedischarge of water into the basket 6 when the sudsy water is beingpumped from the tub 7 of the storage facilities B to the water supplyingmeans 37 and the conduit 43 to prevent any possibility of the sudsywater from backing up and flowing over the cap 40. The conduit 38 hasthreaded thereon a cap 40 and a funnel shaped screen 41 rests within thecap 40. A bafiie 42, integral with the pro- Patented May 5, 1959tuberance 39 as seen in Fig. 2 is provided for a purpose to behereinafter more fully, explained. A short conduit 44 is threaded to thelower end of the conduit 38 and a flexible conduit 45 is connectedthereto. The conduit 45 at its other end is connected to the outlet 36of the pump 34. A conventional pressure switch 33 is provided in theconduit 45 for a purpose which will be more apparent as the descriptionproceeds. A fresh water inlet conduit 46, having a nozzle 47 is providedfor supplying water to the water supplying means '37 from the ordinaryhousehold water supply. The water supplied through the conduit 46 andthe nozzle 47 passes through a conventional temperature control mixingvalve (not shown). It will be understood that the temperature mixingvalve is adapted to receive hot and cold water through suitable intake(not shown) and to automatically control the relative amount of each sothat water of the desired temperature passes through the flexibleconduit 46 to the nozzle- The structure of the water supplying means 37provides a soft, water fall-like flow of the water from the nozzle 47into the basket 6. The relative disposition and arrangement of the partsis effective to provide an aerated soft flow of the water into the tub.This is accomplished by passing the bulk of the water from the nozzle 47through the screen 41 and against the baflle 42. Because thec'ap 40 andthe conduit 38 are of larger diameter than the flow of water, air willbe sucked into the cap 40 and the conduit 38 and will be mixed with thewater to provide aeration of the water before its passage into the flatelongated conduit 43, resulting in a soft splash free flow of the waterinto the basket 6.

As can be seen, some of the water entering the water supplying means 37as the basket 6 is being filled will enter the conduits 44 and 45 tofill the conduit 45, the

pump 35 and the conduit 29 toa level which is determined by the heightof the storage facilities B. This Water in the conduits 45 and 29 actsto keep the pump 34 primed.

Operation The basket 6 is filled with fresh water from the inlet conduit46. The agitation of the clothes in the basket 6 the-n takes place afterwhich the basket is spun and the wash water is drained from the basketinto the tub 4 from which it discharegs into the drain '16 and is pumpedby the'pump 17 into the two-way valve 2'0. 'The solenoid "24 isenergized to move the flapper valve 23 to a position whereby the outlet21 is closed and the outlet '22 is open 'so that the sudsy wash water isdrained through the conduit 28 into the tub 7 for storage. Fresh wateris then permitted to enter the basket through the water supplying means37 to rinse the clothes. The basket is again spun and during thisspinning or water extraction cycl'et'he solenoid 24 is actuated to movethe flapper valve *23-to a position closing the outlet 22 and openingthe outlet 21 of the two-way valve 20 so that the rinse water is pumpedinto the conduit '27 for discharge into the tub :8

"through the opening 14 and to the drain 15.

"at which time the pressure switch 33 energizes the water fill valve(not shown) to add fresh water to the basket and thus assure a full tubof water, part sudsy water and par't'fresh water. The washing, rinsingand water extraction cycles are then repeated.

While I have described my invention in connection 'withone specificembodiment thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way ofillustration and not by way of limitation and the scope of my inventionis defined solely by the appended claims which should be construed asbroadly as the prior art will permit.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine of the type which provides a plurality ofoperations including a wash cycle and means are provided for storing thewater of the wash cycle and means are provided for returning the storedwater to the machine, water supplying means for said machine comprisinga pipe connected to a source of fresh water supply, first conduit meansdisposed in spaced relationship to the end of said pipe and adapted toreceive the water flowing therefrom, second conduit means incommunication with said first conduit means for admitting water to saidwashing machine, a baffle disposed in said first conduit means adjacentsaid second conduit means for directing the flow of water into saidsecond conduit means, third conduit means in fluid communication withsaid first and second conduit means and providing an outlet for returnedwash Water from the storage means, there being communication betweensaid conduits whereby fresh water flowing into said first conduit flowsinto said second conduit and into said third conduit.

2. in a washing machine of the-type which provides a plurality ofoperations including a wash cycle and means are provided for storing thewater of the wash cycle and means are provided for returning the storedwater to the machine, water supplying means for said machine comprisinga pipe connected to a source of fresh water supply, conduit means havingfirst and second vertical sections, said first section being disposed inspaced relationship to the end of said pipe and adapted to receive thewater flowing therefrom and said second section being connected to themeans for returning wash water to the machine, a horizontal conduitdisposed between said first and second vertical sections and incommunication therewith for admitting water to said washing machine,bafiie means disposed in said conduit means adjacent said horizontalconduit and between said vertical sections for directing the how of"water into said horizontal conduit, there being communication betweensaid first and second vertical sections whereby fresh water flowing intosaid first vertical section flows into said horizontal conduit and intosaid second vertical section.

3. 'In a washing machine of the type which provides a plurality ofoperations including a wash cycle and means are provided for storing thewater of the wash cycle and means are provided for returning the storedwater to the machine, water supplying means for said machine comprisinga pipe connected to a source of fresh water supply, conduit means havingfirst and second vertical sections, said first section being disposed inspaced relationship to the end of said pipe and adapted to receive thewater flowing therefrom and said second section being connected to themeans for returning wash water to the machine, a horizontal conduit.disposed between said first and second vertical sections .and incommunication therewith for admitting water to :said washing machine,baflle means disposed in said conduit means adjacent said .horizontalconduit and between said vertical sections .for directing the flow ofwater into said horizontal conduit, there being communication betweensaid first and second vertical sections whereby fresh water flowing intosaid first vertical section flows 'into said horizontal conduit and.into said second vertical section, said horizontal zconduit defining agenerally flattened elongated tubular shape having top, bottom, and sidewalls and having a discharge outlet into the machine, a substantialopening in one of said walls whereby when water is being admitted tovsaid second vertical section from :said storage, there willbesulficient outlet of the water to prevent the .returned water fromentering said first vertical section.

4. In -a laundry system including a washing machine of the type whichprovides -a plurality of operations .in-

eluding a wash cycle, a tub for .said washing machine, water, supplyingmeans .for said tub for admitting fresh water to the tub, a drain forsaid tub, a storage container, first conduit means connecting said tubdrain with said storage container, second conduit means connecting saidstorage container with said water supplying means, a pump in said secondconduit means, said pump being located on said washing machine anddisposed below said water supplying means and at a lower level than saidstorage container, said water supplying means comprising a conduithaving first and second vertical sections, a horizontal conduitconnected to said water supplying conduit and disposed between saidsections, bafile means disposed in said water supplying conduit adjacentsaid horizontal conduit, there being communication between said firstand second vertical sections whereby water supplied to said firstvertical section enters said second vertical section and also saidsecond conduit means to prime said pump.

5. In a laundry system including a washing machine of the type whichprovides a plurality of operations including a wash cycle, a tub forsaid washing machine, water supplying means for said tub for admittingfresh water to the tub, a drain for said tub, a storage container, firstconduit means connected to said tub drain and having two outlets, one ofsaid outlets discharging to the storage container and the other of saidoutlets discharging to drain, a valve for controlling said outlets topermit wash water to either be stored or discharged to drain, secondconduit means connecting said storage container with said watersupplying means, a pump in said second conduit means, said pump beinglocated on said washing machine and disposed below said water supplyingmeans and at a lower level than said storage container, said watersupplying means comprising a conduit having first and second verticalsections, a horizontal conduit connected to said water supplying conduitand disposed between said sections, bafile means disposed in said watersupplying conduit adjacent said horizontal conduit, there beingcommunication between said first and second vertical sections wherebyWater supplied to said first vertical section enters said secondvertical section and also said second conduit means to prime said pump.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

